Humidifier



arch 4, 1947.

G. W. SKILBECK HUMIDIFIER Filed July 1, 1944 Patented Mar. 4, v1947UNITED STATES .PATENT OFFICE HUMIDIFIER Gerald W. Skilb'eck, Kenosha,Wis. Application July 1, 1944, Serial N0. v54351-37 (Cil. 237-78) 13Claims.

'This invention relates to humidiers and refers particularly tohumidiers designed to correct overly dry atmospheric conditions inhomes,

shops, oilices and the like.

Humidifiers for this purpose have been available in the past asevidenced by Patent No.

2,111,437, issue'd to Gerald W. Skilbeck March 15,

limited thereto, is vespecially adaptable for use with hot waterVheating systems.

More specifically, it is an object of this inven- 'tion to provide ahumidifier which yis aself contained unit adapted to be attached to aradiator or other element of a hot water heating system and whichincorporates a valved port for emitting hot water from the interior ofthe main chamber of the humidiiied and derived from the heating source,the valve being controlled by the weight of a collecting cup .in whichexcess water accumulates.

Another object of this invention is to provide a humidifier of thecharacter described having a large heated surface area covered by abibulous Wrap so that Water caused to ow over the eX- terior thereofwill be evaporated in large volume. Still another object of thisinvention is to provide a humidier which is simple and wherein the valvecontrolling .mechanism is rugged and not easily injured.

A further object of this invention is to provide a humidifier of thecharacter described which, by virtue of its simplicity in design andconstruction, may be manufactured at a nominal cost.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed and more particularly dened by the appended claims, it beingunderstood that such changes in the precise embodiment of thehereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of thephysical embodiment of the invention constructed according to the bestmode so far devised for the practical application of the principlesthereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a View illustrating a section of an ordinary hot waterradiator and illustrating the application of this invention theretoFigure 2 is an enlarged view, partially in longitudinal section, of thehumidifier, per se; and

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through Figure 2 on the planeof the line 3-3.

Referring .now more .particularly to the accompanying drawing in whichlike numerals indicate Alike parts, the vnumeral 5 designates generallythe humidier unit, which is adapted to be mounted on and supported froma radiator 6 or any other element of a hot water heating system in sucha manner that the hot Water or other heating medium circulates throughthe humidi- `iier.

The humidifier comprises a cylindrical tube l closed at both ends andprovided with an open ended hollow core 8 extending entirelytherethrough. Near its opposite ends the tube 1 has pipe ynipples 9 andI0 projecting laterally by which the structure is `mounted on theradiator or other element of the heating system and through which hotWater from the heating system is permitted to circulate through thetube 1. The tube 'I preferably has a thin wallA so as to take fullvadvantage of the heat of .the water or other heating medium circulatingtherethrough.

At its upper portion the tube has an outlet I'I to which a duct I2 issecured. This duct has a reverse bend or gooseneck portion providing awater trap, and its vfree end issecured as at I3 to a nozzle I4. Thenozzle vIII is supported by a bracket I5 on the upper end of thehumidifier unit and projects through this bracket and the bottom Wall ofa troughlike unit I6 seated on top of the bracket. The outer end of thistroughlike unit is closed, but its inner end, which kterminates adjacentto .the axis of the tube l,

is open so that water discharged by vthe nozzle Il may flow onto thetube 'l and then down over its side Wall.

A lever I1 is pivotally mounted as at I8 within the troughlike uni-t `I6to swing toward and from the top of the nozzle sothat a valve disc I9carried on the underside of the lever may be moved into. and out ofsealing engagement with the nozzle. A spring `2Il conned between the topof the troughlike unit and a washer 2l yieldingly urges the lever andconsequently the valve disc to its raised valve open position. TheWasher 2l kbears against .the head of an adjusting screw 22 threaded.into the lever so that by means of the screw the spring tension withwhich the valve is held open may be adjusted.

The 'entire tube or at least its entire cylindrical side wall has asuitable absorbent or -bibulous ma- 3 terial 23 applied thereto tobecome saturated by the Water flowing down over the tube and thusprovide a. large surface area fromV which the water is constantlyevaporated by the heat of the unit. The bibulous wrapping 23 may be'ofanysuitable material as, for instance, cloth strips Wound spirallyaround theY tube. Water not evaporated is accumulated ina cup 24 looselytelescoped over the bottom end of theV tube and supported by a rod or'link 25.whi`ch extends up through the hollow core 8 to be connected tothe free end of the lever l1 as at 2t.r

Any excess I vtween the cup and the valve so that the weight Y of thecup and water contained therein opposes the biasing means to close thevalve when a predetermined amount of water accumulates in the cup. 'Y Y2. A humidifier comprising: an upright tubular heat exchanger; means forcirculating a heating medium through said heat exchanger so that lthesurface thereof is kept heated; abibulous sheath around the heatYexchangerymeans for supplying Water to the top of the heat exchanger"to flow down over its bibulous sheath and be Thus the weight of the cupand its 'contents rte-' l` acts against the tension of the spring toclose the valve and shut off the supply of water When-v ever the waterin the cup 24 reaches a predeter-V mined level The rate of water flowover the unit is, therefore, coordinated with the rate of evaporation.The faster the Water is evaporated the Y more is permitted to cwover theunit, and vice versa. V

After the valve has been closed in the manner defined, it is reopened assoon 'as enough of the water containedin the cup 24 has been evaporated-to allow the spring 2E to overbalance the weight of the cup and itscontents. The evaporation of the water in the cup is brought aboutvjointly by the Vdirect vapplication of heat to the lower endof :thetube 1 lwhich extends into the water, and by capillary attractioncarrying the 'water up the bibulous wrap of the tube as it begins todry.;

It is to be observed that as the bibulous Wrap dries out the rate ofevaporation'therefrom decreases and, consequently, the Water in the tubeV '1 is not cooled as rapidly andrdoes not circulate 'as fast as whenthe cooling effect of evaporation is present to its'fullest extent.Hence, the lower end of they tube 'I becomes hotter and accelerates'evaporation' from the cup during this periodi rA guard 2l is preferablyprovided forthe unitk lbeing held in placev by screws V28 threaded intostuds 29, secured to the lower .portion'of the tube l and by a screwSthreaded into a lug 3| extended from the end wall of the troughlikeunit A From the foregoing description, takenvin con-V nection with the:accompanying drawing, it will befreadily apparent to those skilled inthe art, that this invention provides a humidifier especially Welladapted for use with hotV water heating systems. However, it will alsobe clear that evaporated; a valve for controlling the supply of water tothe top of the heat exchanger; means mounting the. valve in fixedrelationship to the heat exchanger; means biasing the valve to openposition; a cup in position to catch water which drips from the heatexchanger and/ movable relative Vto the heat exchanger; and a connectionbetween the cup and the valve so that the Weight of the cupY and itscontents oppose the y biasing means and thus regulatethe position ofthevalve to control the flow of Water tothe heatexchanger.

l 3. A humidifier comprising: an upright tubular heat exchanger having ahollowrcor'e opening to both its ends; means for circulating; a` heatingmedium through the heat exchanger; meansfor supplying water to the tcpof the heat exchanger to iiow down over the sides thereof and be`evaporated; a valve, biased toopen positionfor conk:trolling the flowof Water tothe toprof the heat the invention is not limitedpto use withhot water Y heating systems. For instance, the water supplied to thenozzle Ill may be conducted thereto `from any suitable sourcenotnecessarily the intethe chamber to flow down overthe walls thereof andbe evaporated by the heat of the chamber; a valve for closing 4theoutlet; means biasing the valve to open positioiacup at thebottom oflthe chamber in which V excessiwater'flowing down over Y the' chambervaccumulates;` anda connection beexchanger; a cup in Vposition to YcatchV excess Water flowing downover the heat exchanger; and a linkextending through` the tubular ycore of the heat exchanger andconnecting the cup with the valve so that the weightV of the cup and itscontents oppose the bias of the 'valve andthereby v regulate theposition of the valve in Vaccordance with the volume of water flowingovery the heat exchanger. y

4. A humidifier comprising: a'V hollowy tube closed except for inlet andoutletparts adjacent to its opposite'ends; means 'communicating withsaid parts for mounting` the tube in anfupright position andforvcirculating a" heating medium through the interior thereof;v arbibulous Awrap covering the uprightv exterior surfacesY ofthe tube; awater supply duct terminating abovevthe tube so that waterissuingtherefromowsdown lover` thesides of the tube'tosaturateitsfbibulous wrap; a cup in position Ato"catchexce'ssvr waterdripping from the wrappedtube; and meansre; sponsive solelypto thevolume of Ywaterin said cup for regulating thelsupply offvvaterfto saidduct.

5. A humidifier comprising: a hollow upright tube closed at both ends;means for-circulating a heating medium through the hollow tube; abibulous Wrap coveringthev sidewalls ofthe tube; a trough withits mouthin position to discharge -onA top of the tube; a water'supply'nozzle'open-` ing through the bottom Yof the trough forsupplying water to thetrough so that water so'supplied flows down over the bibulous wrap tofbeevaporated; aV pivoted lever.. mounted in the trough above the nozzle; avalve .on said pivoted lever in'position to close thenozzlewhen thevlever fis in a predetermined lowered position; a spring Y Yacting on thelever to hold the vsame raisedland the valve Voff thenozzle'g a wateraccumulation cup separate from the tube butin position to `"catchVexcessywaterV which Adripsrfrom the tube; andal connectionbetween'thecup andl said L'leverso `vthat'the weight Voff the cupQandits contents .opg-V poses the spring' andths regulates the 'positionaai-assu 6. A lhumiclii'er for hot water heating systems comprising: atubular upright vheat exchanger; A

common means for connecting thev heat exchanger to an lelement vof a hotwater heating system and `for enabling the circulation of hot water fromthe heating system through said heat exchanger; an outlet inthe upperportion of the heat exchanger; a duct leading from said outlet andadapted todischarge water from the interior of the heat exchanger on topof the heat exchanger to flow down over the sides of the heat exchangerand be evaporated; a valve biased to open position for controlling the.flow of water through said duct; an excess water accumulation cup inposition to catch water which drips from the bottom 'of the heats.exchanger; and a connecti'on between the cup and said valve so that theweight of the cup and it's vcontents opposethe biasing force of thevalve and thereby regulate the position of the valve in accordance withthe volume of water contained in the cup.

7. A humidier for hot water heating systems comprising: a hollow tubeclosed at its ends and having a hollow core extending therethrough fromend to end; tub-ular means opening to the interior of the tube forconnecting the tube to an element of a hot water heating system and forcirculating hot Water from the system through the tube; an outlet at theupper portion of the tube; a duct connected to the outlet and having agooseneck portion forming a water trap; a valve nozzle at the outer enclof the duct at an elevation above that of the tube; means for conductingwater issuing from the nozzle onto the top of the tube to flow down overthe sides thereof; a valve for closing the nozzle; a spring biasing thevalve to open position; a cup in position to catch excess water drippingfrom the bottom of the tube; and a link Within the hollow core of thetube connecting the cup with the valve so that the weight of the cup andits contents opposes the spring and regulates the position of the valvein accordance with the volume of water contained in the cup.

8. A humidifier for hot water heating systems comprising: a hollow tubeclosed at its endsand having a hollow core extending therethrough fromend to end; tubular means opening to the interior of the tube forconnecting the tube to an element of a hot water heating system and forcirculating hot water from the system through the tube; an outlet at theupper portion of the tube; a duct connected to the outlet and having agooseneck portion forming a water trap; a valve nozzle at the outer endof the duct at an elevation above that of the tube; means for conductingAwater issuing from the nozzle onto the top of the tube to flow downover the sides thereof; a valve for closing the nozzle; a spring biasingthe valve to open position; a cup in position to catch excess waterdripping from the bottom of the tube; a link within the hollow core ofthe tube connecting the cup with the valve so that the weight of the cupand its contents opposes the spring and regulates the position of thevalve in accordance with the volume of water contained in the cup; and abibulous wrap covering the exterior walls of the tube to becomesaturated by the water flowing over the tube.

9. A humidifier comprising: a heating element; a bibulous wrap providingthe external surface for the heating element; means for supplying waterto the upper portion of the heat- 'ing element toflow 'down over' thbibulous wrap fon its exterior for evaporation' by the -he'at `of theheating element .so that the heating element and its wrap act-as "ahumidifier unit; `a valve supported in fixed relationship to thehumidifier unit -for controlling the supply of water owing Ato the upperportion of the heating element; -fa

cup adjacent to the bottom ofthe humidifier unit in position to receiveexcess' Water vflowing down over the unit and to accumulate such watertherein, said cup being .movable relative to the h'umidier unit; and aconnection between said cup andthe valve by which the cup is movablysupported adjacent to the bottom of thehumidifier unit and by whichdownward motion of the cup with respect to the unit in response` to theaccumulation of water in the cup is translated into closing motion Aofthe valve, and whereby kthe valve is closed upon accumulation of'a'predetermined amount of water in the cup.

10. A humidier comprising:` van upright tubu- -lar yheat exchanger;means providing for circulation of a heating medium through said heatexchanger so that the surface thereof may be heated; a bibulous sheatharound the heat exchanger; means for supplying Water to the top of theheat exchanger to flow down over its bibulous sheath and be evaporatedso that the heating element and its sheath act as a humidifying unit; avalve for controlling the supply of water to the top of the heatexchanger, said valve having aA movable actuator by which the valve iscontrolled; and means supported from the valve actuator for movementrelative to the humidifying unit for controlling said valve inaccordance with the excess of water supplied to the bibulous sheath.

11. A device of the character described, comprising: a humidifyingelement having substantially upright exterior walls adapted to besubjected to heat with the surface of said walls formed to retard theflow of water supplied to the element; a water supply duct terminatingadjacent to the upper end portion of the humidifying element so thatwater issuing from the duct ows down over the surface of the element; avalve fixed With respect to the humidifying element for controlling thesupply of water to said duct; means biasing the valve to open position;an excess water accumulation receptacle in position to catch andaccumulate excess water flowing down over the exterior surfaces of thehumidifying element, said receptacle being movable with respect to thehumidifying element; and a connection between the receptacle and thevalve by which the receptacle is supported independently of thehumidifying element and by which motion of the receptacle relative tothe element in response to accumulation of water in the receptacleactuates the valve toward closed position. whereby the weight of thereceptacle and its contents opposes the biasing means to coordinate theposition of the valve with the volume of the water flowing over thesurface of the humidifying element.

12. A device of the character described comprising: a hollow humidifyingelement having a moisture retaining surface and adapted to be internallyheated so as to diffuse water on the exterior of the element into theatmosphere; water supply means xed with respect to the humidifyingelement for delivering Water to the upper portion thereof to flow downsaid surface thereoffor evaporation from said surface; a receptacle inwhich the lower end portion of the hollow ,'humidifying element is Yreceived :for

catching andY accumulating excess water from l said surface `ofV theelement, said receptacle being Y.movable relatively to the element inresponse to the weightof water accumulating therein, Water accumulatingin vsaid ,receptacle being heated by thelower end portion Y of thehumidifying ele- Y Vment, immersed therein and evaporated thereby V-to'increase the capacity of the device; and means responsivesolelyto theYquantityV of Water ac-` cumulated in the receptacle for regulating theyoperativeness of said Water `supply means and to render said supplymeans ineffective uponrac- .cumulation of a predetermined amountofrwater lln the receptacle. 1 Y

13. A device of the character described cm-k prising: a humidinfyingelement having a moisture retaining surface adapted to be subjected toheat so as to effect diffusion of water vapor to the atmosphere; watersupply means for delivering water to saidelement to oW down said sur-`face thereof; a receptacle; means mounting the 20 470,424 Frazar et al.Mar. 8,1892V receptacle adjacent to the bottom-of the humidifyingelement in positionyto catch and accumulate excess Water dripping fromthe element and V,for movement relative to the humidifying element inresponse to the accumulation of vwater *15 Y Y UnitarianV sTA'rEsV1=-A'I'l1:1\1v'1's Number Name YDate V2,094,886 skubeck v r; r Mar. 24,1936 1,838,405 Jones 1--,-1 Dec. 29, 1931 Y

